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Universal design and accessibility: an approach of the influence of muscle strength loss in the risk of falls in the elderly

Issue title: IEA 2012: 18th World congress on Ergonomics - Designing a sustainable future

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Reis, P.; | Moro, A.; ; | Bins Ely, V. | Fernandes, C.; | Vilagra, J. | Peres, L. | Fogaça Junior, O. | Merino, Eugenio

Affiliations: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia de Produção, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, SC, Brazil | Instituto de Ensino Superior de Foz do Iguaçu, Pr, Brazil | Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação Física, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, SC, Brazil | Universidade do Oeste do Paraná, Pr, Brazil | Universidade Federal Tecnológica do Paraná, Pr, Brazil | Universidade do Norte do Paraná, Pr, Brazil

Note: [] Corresponding author: Pedro Ferreira Reis – Instituto de Ensino Superior de Foz do Iguaçu, Pr, Brazil - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina – Programa de Pós Graduação em Engenharia de Produção – Ergonomia - Laboratório de Biomecânica – Campus Universitário, Trindade, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil. CEP: 88.040-970; Tel. (55) 4837218530. E-mail: [email protected]

Keywords: aging, ergonomics, accident

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0185-374

Journal: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 374-379, 2012

Published: 2012
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Abstract

This study was conducted with older adults living in a long-stay institution in the city of Foz do Iguacu, Parana, Brazil with the objective of assessing the influence of muscle strength loss in the risk of falls. The sample consisted of 65 elderly who walk without the aid of support for locomotion, 37 women and 28 men, aged between 67 and 80 years. The risk of falls was assessed through the TUG test. To determine the handgrip strength, a hand dynamometer model Jamar ( was used, which provides the result in kg / force (kgf), being held only with the dominant hand. The results showed that in the last 12 months, only 32% of the elderly surveyed had no fall and the average handgrip strength was 24.32 ( 11.22 kgf; 40% had one fall and the average handgrip strength was 23.82 ( 10.18 kgf; 8% had two falls and the average handgrip strength was 19.48 ( 8.21 kgf and 20% had more than one fall and the average handgrip strength of 18.13 ( 7.33 Kgf., indicating that the force levels are statistically lower among elderly at high risk of falls (p> 0.05). It was concluded that the lower the force level, the greater the likelihood of falls. Thus, it is important to stress that due to the loss of muscle strength, all ergonomic hazards and architectural barriers must be removed so that older adults can perform their tasks more easily, with comfort and safety.

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